Cape York meteorite
The Cape York meteorite, also known as the Innaanganeq meteorite, is one of the largest known iron meteorites, classified as a medium octahedrite in chemical group IIIAB. In addition to many small fragments, at least eight large fragments with a total mass of 58 tonnes have been recovered, the largest weighing 31 tonnes (31 long tons; 34 short tons). The meteorite is named after the location where the largest fragment was found: 23 miles (37 km) east of Cape York, in Savissivik, Meteorite Island, Greenland.
| Cape York | |
|---|---|
The "Ahnighito" fragment in the American Museum of Natural History | |
| Type | Iron |
| Structural classification | Octahedrite, medium |
| Group | IIIAB |
| Composition | 7.58% Ni, 19.2 ppm Ga, 36.0 ppm Ge, 5.0 ppm Ir |
| Country | Greenland |
| Region | Avannaata |
| Coordinates | 76°08′N 64°56′W |
| Fall date | A few thousand years ago |
| Found date | Prehistoric |
| TKW | 58,200 kg |
| Related media on Wikimedia Commons | |
The date of the meteorite fall is debated, but was likely within the last few thousand years. It was known to the Inughuit (the local Inuit) for centuries, who used it as a source of meteoritic iron for tools. The first foreigner to reach the meteorite was Robert Peary in 1894, with the assistance of Inuit guides. Large pieces are on display at the American Museum of Natural History and the University of Copenhagen Geological Museum.